Cleaning the oven is often ranked as the most loathed household task, especially when using unsuitable products. While white vinegar and bicarbonate of soda are commonly championed by cleaning influencers for battling oven grime, one woman has discovered a natural alternative that 'worked better' — and cleaning professionals support her findings.
Woman Shares Oven Cleaning Success Story
Becca Dwyer posted on the Mrs Hinch Cleaning Tips and Tricks Facebook page a photo of her mother's oven glass door, coated in dark brown, almost black, grease and grime. She disclosed exactly what she used to restore it to a 'sparkling' condition. 'Hi. This is the glass from my mother's oven door. I was cleaning her oven today as she can't bend down. I've tried Pink Stuff paste, Elbow Grease cream, dishwasher tablet, aerial pod, also baking soda and vinegar, but nothing shifted it,' she wrote.
Why Vinegar and Baking Soda Fail
Many online sources recommend a paste of bicarbonate of soda and vinegar for oven cleaning, but in practice, this mixture proves ineffective for removing persistent grease from oven glass. The experts at Dri-Pak confirmed that bicarbonate of soda and vinegar simply don't deliver desired results. 'One thing that isn't really the best solution, despite lots of internet tips, is to use bicarbonate of soda and then add white vinegar. The effect will be reduced because the acid white vinegar is neutralising the alkalinity of the baking soda, and it's that which dissolves the grease,' they stated.
Soda Crystals: The Effective Alternative
Becca opted to try something different. 'Someone then suggested soda crystals to me, and it worked so much better than anything I've tried. It's now sparkling,' she explained. Dri-Pak highly recommends soda crystals as a powerful alternative. 'Soda crystals are excellent for dissolving grease and working on stubborn, burnt-on food,' they noted.
How to Use Soda Crystals
Households can prepare a concentrated soda crystals solution or liberally spray liquid soda crystals onto the oven door and across the interior of the oven. Leave the soda crystals to work for at least 20 minutes before wiping down. Repeat the procedure on any especially persistent areas, or apply dry soda crystals directly onto the surface to act as an abrasive, scrubbing vigorously with a cloth.
Where to Buy Soda Crystals
Soda crystals are readily available online. Big Green Smile sells them for £2.11, while Savers offers them for £2. Liquid soda crystals are priced slightly lower: £2.45 at Big Green Smile and £2.99 at Ethical Superstore.
Another Natural Solution: Lemons
Another natural cleaning solution for oven door glass is lemons. One cleaning influencer insisted she will never return to shop-bought oven cleaner after discovering the effectiveness of lemons.
